
Book H75 



GojpghtW. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



Ties That Bind. 



PART FIRST. 
TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 



PART SECOND. 
TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 



BY 

REV- A- JJOUTZ, A, M-, 

ORANGEVILLE, PA., 
Author of " Hold the Fort" and "A Pastorate of Thirty-five Years." 



READING, PA.: 
L 1VL BEAVER, PUBLISHER. 

J908. 




1*2-5 



■ 



COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY 
REV. A. HOLTZ. 






INTRODUCTION. 



In writing this little book it is proper to state 
that the author does not aim at competition with 
other similar productions, nor does he wish to dis- 
cuss certain theological questions which would only 
lead to unpleasant and unprofitable controversy. 
"Convince a man against his will, and he is of the 
same opinion still." 

He is frank to state that the subject, "Tibs That 
Bind," suggested itself to his mind and seemed to 
be loath to depart. Like a seed, it gained perma- 
nent lodging in his mind and has spontaneously de- 
veloped into the lines of thought presented in this 
book. 

The author does not claim perfection for him- 
self, much less for his book. He aims to be prac- 
tical and hopes to touch the responsive chords of 
some hearts that may feel the need of such a book. 
He is aware that he touches many questions that 
are found in the realm of dispute and discussion, but 
he has not written for the critic, the philosopher or 
the theologian, but for the common people who can 
best appreciate that which is practical and within 
the range of their comprehension. The hope is en- 
tertained that the reader of this volume may be led 
to realize more clearly his true relation to his coun- 
try, fellow-men and fellow- Christians; and that his 
visions of the heavenly world may be enlarged, and 
that he may thereby discover new avenues of enjoy- 
ment and employment in the celestial world. 

It is hoped this little book to many will be both 
a path-breaker and a path-finder. We therefore send 
it forth on its mission. May a kind Providence 
watch over it, and, if it is worthy of a voyage, may 
it carry a blessing to many souls. A. H. 



CONTENTS. 



PART FIRST. 
Ties That Blnt> on Earth. 

Page 

Chapter I. The Law of Natural Affinity 7 

" II. The Tie of Humanity 12 

" III. The National Tie 25 

" IV. The Social Tie 32 

" V. The Business Ties 39 

" VI. The Tie of Kinship 46 

" VII. The Domestic Tie 52 

" VIII. The Christian Tie 59 



PART SECOND. 

Ties That Bind m Heaven. 

Chapter IX. Our Future State 11 

" X. Heavenly Recognition 81 

" XI. Communication Between This 

and the Spirit World 87 

" XII. The Heavenly Ties 93 

" XIII. Christ the Great Center of At- 
traction 114 



PART I. 



TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 



CHAPTEK I. 
The Law of Natural Affinity* 

The natural world seems to be under a 
law of mysterious attraction. It matters 
not whether we ascend the scale of being or 
descend it, we see manifestations of this 
mysterious law. We see it in the mineral, 
vegetable and animal kingdoms. If we take 
the telescope and view the planetary sys- 
tem, we can see this law of attraction sus- 
taining the heavenly bodies in their normal 
relations to one another. If we take the 
microscope and inspect the otherwise invis- 
ible objects of the material world, we will 
discover even there the law of attraction. 
Take any material object, as a stone, or 
iron, and what is it in its composition ? It 
consists of material substance, or molecules 
held together not by cement, but by the 
forces of cohesion. All material bodies are 



8 TIES THAT BIXD ON EARTH. 

composed of minute particles held together 
by some mysterious bond. Suspend the 
law of attraction, and they would dissolve. 

In every living organism, as the body of 
the fish, fowl, beast or man, there is a mys- 
terious something that holds and binds its 
parts together. That mysterious principle 
in plants and animals we call life ; in man 
we call it spirit. If this living principle 
departs, the organism disintegrates. 

Not only is the substance that enters into 
an organism held together by a certain 
natural affinity, but individual organisms 
are associated and bound together by ties 
that often appear very mysterious. In the 
vegetable kingdom we see certain kinds of 
plants, flowers and trees grouped together ; 
the natural explanation is that the con- 
geniality of soil and climate is the cause of 
their growing together. Undoubtedly this 
is the correct explanation, but even these 
conditions are nature's ties that bind kin- 
dred plants together. Among the finny 
tribes we see a law of attraction. Fish of the 



THE LAW OF NATURAL AFFINITY. 9 

same species associate together. They live 
and travel in schools. It is a beautiful sight 
to see a whole school of fish pass by a point 
from which we may observe them. Their 
movements are so graceful and their com- 
panionship seems to be so congenial ; they 
are bound together by some mysterious and 
powerful tie. Among the feathery tribes 
we see the same law of social attraction. It 
is a common saying that " birds of a feather 
flock together." So marked is this asso- 
ciation of birds of the same species that 
they seem to hold meetings to discuss and 
decide questions of mutual interest. They 
certainly seem to decide upon the day of 
their departure to another clime and the 
direction of their flight ; in their flight how 
closely together do they fly. If one is de- 
tained by the shot of the sportsman's gun, 
how very eager is it to catcB up with its 
comrades. A mysterious tie binds them 
together. Who has not observed the won- 
derful affinity that exists between ants of 
the same family and bees of the same hive. 



10 TIES THAT BIND ON EAKTH. 

You may say it is a family attachment or 
natural instinct. It matters not what you 
call it, it is a mysterious tie that binds them 
together. 

Among the animals that roam on the 
earth, we see the same law of attraction ; 
we are accustomed to say : " A pack of 
wolves," a " drove of sheep," a " herd of 
cattle ; " all these terms imply the same 
thing ; a mysterious tie that binds every 
one to its own kind. They are gregarians. 
The life of every one seems to be merged 
into the life of the others. What a frantic 
effort a captive bird or sheep will make to 
join its fellows. Now all these specimens 
of attraction found in the mineral, vegeta- 
ble and animal kingdoms indicate that the 
Divine Author of all matter and being de- 
creed that His creatures of the same species 
should be intimately related to one another ; 
and He has therefore created certain natu- 
ral affinities, or in other words placed them 
under the law of physical and social attrac- 



THE LAW OF NATURAL AFFINITY. 11 

tion. He has provided certain natural ties 
to bind His creatures together. 

If we find this law of attraction in the 
mineral, vegetable and animal kingdoms, 
should we not find it in the human family ? 
As we rise in the scale of being, we observe 
that the attraction is greater. Should we 
not therefore expect to find this law of at- 
tration manifold and stronger among man- 
kind? 

It is the province of this little book to 
consider the ties that bind mankind to- 
gether. We will begin with the lower at- 
tractions and proceed to the higher forms 
of attraction, and you will observe as man 
advances in culture, intelligence, morality 
and spirituality, his relation to his fellow- 
men develops and intensifies. 



CHAPTER II. 
The Tie of Humanity* 

Perhaps the most comprehensive tie that 
binds mankind together is the tie of hu- 
manity. While this tie is not the strongest 
and at any time may appear even weak, 
yet it is the most comprehensive, as it em- 
braces the whole race of mankind. 

The tie of humanity implies a common 
origin of all human beings and recognizes 
a common parentage, and hence a univer- 
sal brotherhood. The human family is di- 
vided into five distinct races, as follows : 
Caucasian, Mongolian, Ethiopian, Ameri- 
can and Malay. It is believed that all 
these races originally proceeded from a 
common parentage, Adam and Eve. 

Physically and mentally man is wonder- 
fully and fearfully made, and differs rad- 
ically from any other being on earth. The 



THE TIE OF HUMANITY. 13 

diversity of complexion, features, language 
and mental calibre is only incidental. This 
was evidently brought about by a long sub- 
jection to modifying causes, as climate, en- 
vironment and habits of life. Thus the 
torrid zone is best adapted to develop the 
Ethiopian race; the temperate zone, the 
Caucasian race ; the climate of Asia, the 
yellow races ; and the forests of America, 
the red men. We must bear in mind that 
these modifying conditions did not do their 
work in a short time, but it required ages. 
The question of the oneness of the human 
family can be explained or simplified by 
analogy. Do we not see many changes 
taking place in the vegetable and in the an- 
imal kingdoms in our day ? How rapidly 
the variety of corn, oats and wheat in- 
creases. A few years ago only a few va- 
rieties of potatoes were known ; now how 
many, and every year introduces new va- 
rieties to us. So it is with our fruit; 
what a variety of apples, peaches and pears 
is there. By cultivation, grafting and 



14 TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 

transplanting from one soil and climate to 
another, we obtain a great variety. We 
see the same general principles existing 
among the domestic fowls and animals. 
What a great variety of chickens, ducks, 
geese and turkeys there is. What a great 
variety of hogs, sheep, cattle and horses 
there is. It would be absurd to suppose 
that this great variety which we now see in 
grain, fruit, fowl and animal always ex- 
isted. A careful observation of a few years 
teach us how these varieties are produced 
and that the process is still going on. 

So, when we study the human family we 
find it is divided into five general classes ; 
and these again into subdivisions as tribes, 
and these into individual families. This 
diversity is still going on as families inter- 
marry, and as they change their places of 
residence and adopt new climes and habits 
in its development. The human family is 
like a tree. At first the tree was a single 
stem ; as it grew it parted into general ■ 
branches, and these again into smaller ones. 



THE TIE OF HUMANITY. 15 

Thus the human family started with our 
first parents, Adam and Eve. They were 
destined to inhabit the earth and replenish 
it. The attempt to centralize the human 
family was frustrated by the confusion of 
tongues at Babel, and it was scattered. At 
the time of the flood all mankind was de- 
stroyed except Noah and his three sons and 
their wives. After the flood these seven 
persons started out to people the earth. It 
is supposed that Shem settled in Asia, Ham 
in Africa, and Japheth in Europe. From 
these three leading branches of the human 
family sprang the great variety of people 
that appear on the earth. By intermar- 
riage, change of climate and different modes 
of life came a change in the people. As 
we trace the branch of the tree to the 
limb and the limb to the trunk and this to 
the root, so we may trace mankind of to- 
day back through the different stages of 
existence to the fountain head, Adam and 
Eve. " He hath made of one blood all na- 
tions of men for to dwell on all the face of 



16 TIES THAT BIND ON EAETH. 

the earth, arid hath determined the times 
before appointed, and the bounds of their 
habitation." (Acts 17 : 26.) 

Now just in so far as this truth is recog- 
nized do men realize their relation to one 
another as human beings of the same origin 
and parentage, and are bound to one an- 
other by the tie of humanity. It is for 
this reason that the archaeologist when he 
finds in a rock the foot prints of a human 
being, is so much affected with curious 
delight, and thus soliloquizes : " What is 
this ? Foot prints of a human being ! Foot 
prints of a descendant of Adam ! Foot prints 
of a brother ! Where did he live, what 
was his name and occupation ? To what 
tribe and nation did he belong ? " Oh, how 
interested he becomes ; how very curious he 
is. He asks and thinks a thousand ques- 
tions. Why ? Because it is the foot prints 
of a human being. The tie of humanity 
asserts itself, and he feels related to that 
being. 



THE TIE OF HUMANITY. 17 

Did you ever stand by the exhumed re- 
mains of some human being of a former age 
and unknown nation ? How many curious 
questions flooded your mind ; you became 
intensely interested in those relics. Why 
were you so interested in those lifeless re- 
mains ? Ah ! it is plain ; you recognized 
a kinship, a personal relation to the un- 
known one. The tie of humanity binds the 
living of the present with the dead of the 
past. When you view the remains of some 
animal that existed in the remote past, 
there are no such feelings springing up in 
your breast. You may be curious to know 
what kind of animal it was and its mission, 
but you experience no feelings of brother- 
hood. 

Now, this tie of humanity is a natural 
bond which should unite all human beings 
together, and should lead them to cherish a 
kindly feeling for one another. But how 
often are its claims disregarded. Nation 
rises up against nation upon the slightest 
provocation. Tribe makes war upon tribe 



18 TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 

and one or the other is exterminated. Even 
in our day in the wilds of benighted coun- 
tries there are savages so crude in their 
knowledge of their common origin and with 
no perceptible feeling of humanity, that 
they delight in one another's destruction. 
Passing from the destructive wars that 
have characterized the history of the hu- 
man race in all ages, we come to the op- 
pression of the slavery system. What is 
this but the total disregard of the claims of 
humanity ? All men are created equal be- 
fore their Maker. What right has one in- 
dividual or one class of men to hold in sub- 
jection and bondage another class of human 
beings ? Where slavery exists there is gen- 
erally an effort made to suppress the instincts 
of the brotherhood of mankind. It was no 
unusual thing to hear the remark that a 
slave had no soul. To make the accursed 
system of slavery compatible with human 
reason, the claims of a common humanity 
were ignored by some ; but it is apparent to 
every intelligent mind that slavery disap- 



THE TIE OF HUMANITY. 19 

pears as man recognizes his true relation to 
his fellowmen. As the true idea of God pre- 
vails, superstition and idolatry recede, and 
as men learn their true relation to one an- 
other, will slavery and other forms of op- 
pression abate. 

In all the struggles of the past for liberty 
and freedom we see an oppressed humanity 
trying to assert itself, and place all men on 
equality in their inherent rights. Just in 
proportion as men become conscious of their 
common origin in Adam and Eve, and the 
natural brotherhood of mankind, in that 
proportion will they be bound together by 
the tie of humanity. The human race 
should be regarded as one family, and God 
the universal Father of us all. Let the 
doctrine of a common humanity be taught 
and it will make man humane to his fellow- 
man. If we could realize our common or- 
igin, we would feel more kindly disposed 
toward all mankind. Our sympathy would 
go out toward them. We would feel like 
breaking off this yoke of oppression, and 



20 TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 

our prayers and alms would be freely of- 
fered for the elevation and Christianization 
of the heathen. 

In the fall the sense of man's obligations 
to his fellowman was almost obliterated. 
In Cain, who slew his brother Abel, the 
spirit of envy was stronger than the sense 
of obligation to a brother. When God said 
to Cain : " Where is Abel, thy brother ? " 
it was to remind him of the obligation to 
that brother. God held him responsible 
for his life ; the crime he had committed 
was not only a violation of the moral law 
written on the human heart, but the wilful 
neglect of that care and protection which he 
owed his younger brother. Even the reply 
of Cain was an attempt to throw off that 
obligation. He said : " Am I my brother's 
keeper ? " God did not say, yes, you are, 
but He exposed his wickedness and inhu- 
manity by saying : " The voice of thy 
brother's blood crieth unto me from the 
ground." On the broad ground of human- 
ity we are all under obligation to consult 



THE TIE OF HUMANITY. 21 

the welfare of our fellowmen. We are our 
brother's keeper. The tie of humanity that 
binds us together as one human family 
places us under mutual obligations to one 
another. On this common ground of hu- 
manity, the rich should help the poor, the 
strong the weak, the high should conde- 
scend to the lowly, the learned to the un- 
learned. Solomon says : " The rich and 
the poor meet together ; the Lord is the 
maker of them all." (Prov. 22 : 2.) We 
are ready to acknowledge that they meet 
together in the grave, but forget that they 
meet together in this common origin : " The 
Lord is the Maker of them all." Let us 
recognize our common origin and our mu- 
tual dependence upon one another. 

The great labor question can best be set- 
tled on the ground of humanity. When 
the employer and employee recognize each 
other as human beings, equal before God 
and possessed with equal inherent rights 
and treat each other as such, will the diffi- 
3 



22 TIES THAT BIXD OX EARTH. 

culties between Capital and Labor subside. 
We are beginning to see favorable indica- 
tions in many respects. Where the em- 
ployer takes into confidence his employee 
it indicates a step in the right direction. 
There seems to be some adaptation to man's 
obligations to his fellowmen in the Script- 
ural injunction : " Look not every man on 
his own things, but every man also on the 
things of others.'' (Phil. 2 : 4.) The old 
saying, " Might is right," will not stand 
approved before an enlightened civilization. 
That sentiment is now generally considered 
unjust and tyrannical. 

There in an inclination with manv in 
our day to take the part of the weak and 
oppressed. In the kind treatment which 
the indigent are now receiving the claims 
of humanity are being respected. Men are 
often blinded by ambition, the love of con- 
quest, and very often by the spirit of re- 
venge which has been fostered by imaginary 
wrongs. When the cloud of battle has 
passed by and the din of war is silent and 



THE TIE OF HUMANITY. 23 

men become calm, they then seem to come 
to themselves and repent of their inhu- 
manity to man. 

Man's relation and obligation to his fel- 
lowman as such should be more prominent ; 
it should be taught in the family, public 
schools, Sunday schools and from the pul- 
pit. When men have proper conception of 
this grand principle there will be less dis- 
position to quarrel, to oppress and extermi- 
nate one another. Then, too, we may look 
for the literal fulfillment of the prophecy : 
" They shall beat their swords into plough 
shares, and their spears into pruning hooks ; 
nation shall not lift up sword against na- 
tion, neither shall they learn war any 
more." (Isa. 2 : 4.) All systems of caste 
and slavery will wane, and universal broth- 
erhood will prevail. The Caucasian will 
say to the bare-footed African, " We are 
brethren." While some tribes and nations 
may have superior culture and refinement 
than others, yet there will be an honest 
recognition of the possibilities in those of 



24 TIES THAT BIXD ON EARTH. 

little or no culture. There will be recog- 
nition of that latent mental and moral 
power which may be called forth and de- 
veloped. The recognition of this fact will 
make the cultured man feel more keenly 
his obligations to his unfortunate brother. 



CHAPTER III. 
The National Tie* 

Every hive of bees constitutes a little 
kingdom by itself. It has its head, gov- 
ernment and subjects. It has its own pos- 
sessions and rights. No system in nature 
seems to be so thorough in its organization 
and government as that of the bees. They 
all seem to be bound together by a mys- 
terious tie, and every bee acts as if it were 
subject to some central will-power. The 
life of every bee seems to be merged in 
the general life of the hive. A mysterious 
tie binds them together and all seem to be 
actuated by a common impulse. For the 
general good of the hive a bee will faith- 
fully work ; it will fight for it and die in 
its defense. 

A nation of men, in its constitution and 
internal relation, is very much like a hive of 



26 TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 

bees. Like the bees, it has its own domin- 
ion — a country which it inhabits and jeal- 
ously guards and defends as its own domin- 
ion, ever expelling intruders and repelling 
invaders. It has its head and system of laws 
for self-government. It has its industries to 
carry forward and its resources to develop. 
Like a hive of bees, the nation is permeated 
by a common life. This natural life not only 
permeates the native citizen and assimi- 
lates his individual life to itself, but when 
foreigners immigrate to this country and in 
due time are naturalized by an official act, 
their individual life is gradually merged 
into the general life of the nation and is 
assimilated to it. As the law of cohesion 
holds the molecules of a substance together, 
so the national life unites and holds its 
citizens together. It binds them together 
in a grand national compact or society. 

There are many things which contribute 
toward the formation and development of 
the national life. The occupying of one 
and the same country is a bond of union ; 



THE NATIONAL TIE. 27 

all its citizens having this as their national 
home, naturally feel an interest in those 
who are partners in that one and same 
country. When one thinks of the vastness 
of his country, of its towns and cities, 
mountains and valleys, hills and vales, 
plains, rivers and lakes ; of its productive 
soil and great tracts of timber, its reservoirs 
of gas and oil, the rich deposits of coal and 
iron, lead, copper, silver and gold ; its vast 
manufactories, its great systems of railroads, 
trolley lines, its great waterways for steam- 
boat traffic, its telegraph and telephone 
lines ; its public schools and its numerous 
literary institutions ; when a citizen thinks 
of this national wealth of mines and minds, 
the vastness of his country, its wonderful 
resources and its free and liberal institu- 
tions, he cannot refrain from singing : " My 
Country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty," 
etc. While the more devout citizen may 
feel that all honor and credit are due to a 
kind Providence, yet there will spring up 
in his heart a feeling of national pride and 



28 TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 

patriotism. This feeling, which all citizens 
should have, is a bond of union ; just as a 
personal interest in a railroad, mine or 
manufactory will hold the stockholders to- 
gether, so the right of ownership in a great 
country will necessarily be a bond of union. 
The government of the people, for the 
people and by the people, is a strong bond 
of union. In so far as the individual citi- 
zen is untrammeled by fear or favor, in the 
exercise of his franchise, the laws enacted 
are generally in harmony with the will of 
the people ; and where good and wholesome 
laws are enacted, the government has a sal- 
utary effect upon them. It does not matter 
whether the government is monarchial, 
aristocratic or republican. If the laws are 
in harmony with the better sentiment of 
the people and are administered faithfully 
for their good, the national tie is practically 
as strong under one form of government as 
another. When the laws of the nation ex- 
press the will of the people, then the heart 
of the individual citizen beats in sympathy 



THE NATIONAL TIE. 29 

with the heart of the government. When 
the supreme ruler is arrogant and tyran- 
nical, there may not be much devotion to 
him, but there is nevertheless a sound loy- 
alty to the country and its people. Even 
when the laws are not all in harmony with 
the will of the people, there is nevertheless 
a loyalty to the nation, and for its sake the 
individual citizen will endure civil wrongs 
and grievances which he otherwise would 
not submit to. 

The better the laws are and the more they 
minister to the good of the people, the more 
the latter are in sympathy with the gov- 
ernment ; but any law that benefits only a 
few, to the detriment of the many, is not 
likely to be just, and the masses will ever 
protest against it. 

It is true that one form of government 
seems better adapted to a certain age and 
people than another. In primitive times, 
when people were destitute of educational 
advantages and had no experience in pop- 
ular government, perhaps monarchy was 



30 TIES THAT BIXD OX EARTH. 

the best form of government. If a people 
are not self-reliant and are not capable of 
ruling themselves, but could unite in one 
ruler or king, then this would undoubtedly 
be the best form of government for that 
people and age. 

With the development of man's capacity 
for self-government came the aristocratic 
form of government. In oui day of popu- 
lar education the tendency is toward repub- 
licanism. Where the people are intelligent 
and responsible, perhaps this is the most 
satisfactory form of government. A good 
government of whatever character, if suited 
to the needs and conditions of its people, is 
a strong national tie. 

The education of a people in the same 
political sentiment, social life and religious 
faith tends much to strengthen this national 
tie. The internal business relations of a peo- 
ple contribute much toward the same end. 
Men North and South, East and West, do- 
ing business with one another, bring differ- 
ent sections of the country more closely to- 



THE NATIONAL TIE. 31 

gether and therefore form strong business 
ties. Even the construction of public roads, 
railroads, telephone and telegraph lines, 
running East and West, North and South, 
are ties that bind different sections of a 
country together. All these business inter- 
ests and social intercourses of a people, like 
the warp and woof of a fabric, enter into the 
formation of the national tie. 

Even the geographical conditions of a 
country contribute much to the national tie. 
The great ranges of mountains and deep 
rivers are often physical means of uniting a 
people and protecting them against an in- 
vasion by a foreign foe. Even the temper- 
perature of their climate and the products 
of their fertile fields contribute to the de- 
veloping and unifying of the national life — 
the true bond of a nation. 



CHAPTER IV. 
The Social Tie, 

Very early in life we formed the ac- 
quaintance of other children and learned 
to love them. We can remember far back 
in our childhood days those with whom we 
associated. Those were happy days ; we 
dug little canals and built little railroads ; 
together we went fishing and hunting ; to- 
gether we played games of ball and leap- 
frog ; together we went berry picking and 
nut gatheriug. The girls, too, had various 
plays ; they played keeping house, had their 
little tea parties and exercised motherly 
care over their dolls ; sometimes the pussy 
was pressed into service and taught to act 
like a real little brother or sister. 

When advanced in years, how often do 
our minds revert to the village of our boy- 
hood days. We love to think of the streets 



THE SOCIAL TIE. 33 

in which we played ; the alleys and nooks 
where hide and seek was the chief game ; 
the brook in which we fished and bathed. 

As we take a stroll through the old 
grave yard and read the inscriptions of 
those with whom we associated in former 
years, what a flood of feeling comes over us. 
The past, as a panorama, passes before us. 

In traveling, we occasionally meet a man 
whom we have not seen for forty or fifty 
years ; he was once a schoolmate or play- 
mate. How heartily do we take him by 
the hand, and with not a little emotion we 
exclaim : " How glad I am to see you ! ' 
Then we begin to ask each other such ques- 
tions as these : " Do you remember the old 
school teacher with the cork leg and the 
coiled strap with which he used to chastise 
the bad boys and girls ? " " Oh, yes, Ha ! 
Ha ! I remember how his cork leg would 
screech when he in a determined mood 
would walk across the floor to chastise 
an unruly boy." " Do you remember the 
time we went fishing and for our luncheon 



34 TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 

fried our meat on a heated flat stone ? " 
" Yes, indeed ; what appetites we had and 
how good our food tasted." " Do you re- 
member the time we rode from M — to L — 
in a spring wagon and made confidants of 
each other ? You said you would be a 
lawyer and I said I would be a minister." 
To this the Judge replied : " Oh, yes ! I 
remember the circumstance, and how truly 
did those youthful predictions come to 
pass." An elderly lady meets another and 
learns that they were playmates and school- 
mates over two score years ago. How rap- 
idly do they recall the many pleasant in- 
stances of their childhood days. They seem 
to live those early days over again. The 
dolls they fondled, the school they at- 
tended and the picnics, excursions and so- 
cials in which they took part were things 
of the past, but are now distinctly recalled, 
and they feel that the strong social ties of 
childhood days still bind them together. 

Those families who moved from the same 
localities in the East to the far West are 



THE SOCIAL TIE. 35 

usually very much attached to one an- 
other. This association of the same locality 
in earlier days binds them together. How 
often do they in their Western home think 
and talk of the events and scenes of their 
early days in the East. Not a hill, moun- 
tain or valley of their native locality is 
overlooked or forgotten. They love to talk 
of the brook, bridge, school house and 
church of their early days and seem to live 
them over again. 

What strong ties are formed in our com- 
mon schools and colleges, where students 
meet each other on the campus, in the gym- 
nasium, in the recitation room and lecture 
hall. They study the same text books and 
recite to the same teachers. They become 
acquainted with each other. Their social 
life is one ; their intellectual training is the 
same and they appear to be cast in the same 
mould. Indeed so true is this that the alma 
mater may be known by the general deport- 
ment and the intellectual trend of a student. 
Thus by certain characteristics a student 



36 TIES THAT BIND ON EAETH. 

may be known to be a son of Yale, Cornell, 
Lafayette or Franklin & Marshall. Like 
the chameleon, they partake of the intel- 
lectual colors of their respective institutions. 

What strong ties are formed in the army 
and navy. During the time of war men 
are called out from different localities to 
join the army and navy in defense of their 
country, or to maintain their national rights. 
Most of these men are perfect strangers 
when they meet as raw recruits. They are 
drilled together, tent together, gather around 
the same camp fire ; they march together 
and suffer together. They fight under the 
same banner and for the same cause. They 
have fellowship with one another in the 
common dangers, hardships and sufferings. 

It is these associations of the soldiers that 
bind them together. They love to meet 
in their posts and talk over the days and 
dangers of the past. With what keenness 
do they remind one another of certain inci- 
dents that occurred in the war. At the 
reunion of a company or regiment, how 



THE SOCIAL TIE. 37 

hearty is the shaking of hands by the com- 
rades and how vehement is the outburst of 
joy at meeting an old comrade long after 
the war. The ties that bind the old sol- 
diers are strong ; these ties were sanctified 
by mutual hardship and suffering ; they 
were baptized in blood and will be perpet- 
uated to the end of their lives. Who has 
not observed the solemn and quiet manner 
of the veterans as they approach the grave 
of a comrade to decorate it ; what memories 
crowd their minds ; what emotions fill their 
souls. With tender and sacred feelings 
they strew the flowers upon the grave ; 
and as they slowly and regretfully turn 
from that grave, we can almost hear them 
say : " Farewell, comrade, may thy ashes 
rest in peace ; and, after the trials, suffer- 
ings and turmoils of earth are over, may 
the Great Father sound the bugle note that 
will call us to join the great army above." 
Then, brushing away the tears that linger 
in their eyes, they reverently and peace- 
4 



38 TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 

fully retire to their respective homes, feeling 
that they had communed with their de- 
parted comrade. 



CHAPTER V. 

Business Ties* 

This is a busy world. There are many 
departments of human activity. Labor is 
classified, as the carpenter, mason, black- 
smith and miller. The professions are also 
classified, as the teacher, physician, lawyer 
and minister. Men of the same occupation 
feel that they have a common interest in 
one another, and are under obligations to 
one another. The different crafts are or- 
ganized into unions, and the different pro- 
fessions into associations. A union or as- 
sociation is usually a strong compact ; its 
members stand by it and by one another. 

By their literature and public addresses 
a strong sentiment is fostered and devel- 
oped. This sentiment becomes a strong 
bond between them. A law that is not sus- 
tained by a strong public sentiment becomes 



40 TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 

weak and often dies ; but the law that is 
well sustained by public sentiment is sure 
to be executed. So the laws of the labor 
union and of the association of professional 
men would be weak if they were not sus- 
tained by a healthy sentiment fostered by 
their literature and public speakers. 

Men of the same craft or profession con- 
stitute a brotherhood ; they are in sympathy 
with one another ; if one suffers, the others 
suffer with him ; if one has occasion to re- 
joice, the others rejoice with him. When 
one is afflicted, the others render him as- 
sistance and give him the needed attention ; 
if he dies, they attend his funeral and in a 
becoming way express their sympathy for 
the bereaved family. The very badge which 
they wear is the symbol of their organiza- 
tion and the principle which it represents. 

The toils, hardships and dangers which 
attend men of any craft strengthen their 
relation to one another, and welds the tie 
that binds them together. Like elements 
in the material world, which gravitate to 



BUSINESS TIES. 41 

one another and crystallize, so men of the 
same craft and profession are drawn to- 
gether by a common interest and mutual 
sympathy. 

Craftsmen and professional men being 
united in unions and associations are a power 
in the business world. Their movements 
for improved conditions are like that of a 
phalanx. When it is evident that their 
demands are just, they are likely to suc- 
ceed. A single workman could do little to 
protect himself against wrongs that a cor- 
poration may inflict, but when many work- 
men are bound together in a union or asso- 
ciation they can make themselves felt ; they 
can then cope with a powerful adversary. 
In union tBere is strength. While wrongs 
have been committed by unions and asso- 
ciations, in the meantime much good has 
proceeded from them. They have checked 
encroachments on their rights, and have se- 
cured better conditions ; hence this power 
is not to be ignored, neither abused or mis- 
used. 



42 TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 

It is true there is some prejudice mani- 
fested against such unions and associations. 
The cry has been made that they are so- 
cialists and anarchists ; that they instigate 
strikes, stagnate business and bring hard- 
ships upon their families and much suffering 
to the community at large. There may be 
some truth in these disparaging declara- 
tions ; the fault, however, is not so much in 
the fact that men are organized into unions 
and associations, but that evils did exist in 
many cases and some drastic measures 
seemed to be necessary to rectify them. 

It is quite probable that, in some cases at 
least, the wisest course has not been pur- 
sued in trying to adjust these difficulties 
between the employer and the employee. 
Not only is intelligence necessary to adjust 
difficulties of this kind, but also a large de- 
gree of Christian forbearance. When both 
the employer and the employee are reason- 
able and charitable, it seems these difficul- 
ties could be easily adjusted. If both 
would have the spirit of the Master, and 



BUSINESS TIES. 43 

practice the Golden Rule, " Thou shalt love 
thy neighbor as thyself," there would be 
peace and harmony in the business world. 

Are not Capital and Labor twin broth- 
ers? Are not the coal operator and the miner 
engaged in the same business? Should 
they not be one in brotherhood, instead of 
two contending and opposing factions? 
Should not the tie that binds the miners 
together also encircle the operators ? Are 
not their interests substantially the same ? 
If one suffers, will not the other ? If one 
prospers, should not the other? Should 
they not cherish mutual confidence in each 
other? If the operator and miner are 
Christians at heart, will they not respect 
each other's rights, consult each other's in- 
terests and cultivate each other's good will ? 

The Apostle says, " Bear ye one another's 
burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." 
(Gal. 6 : 2.) The operator has his burdens 
to bear, as well as the miner. He has his 
great responsibilities, his great expenses and 
losses ; so the miner has his responsibili- 



44 TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 

ties to his family, his wearisome toil and his 
great risks. Should not a loving consider- 
ation for each other's welfare be practiced ? 

Where the employer and employee wor- 
ship the same God and pray for each other, 
there is less strife and contention. If all 
would cultivate the disposition to do right, 
we would have joy and peace where we 
sometimes have bickering, bad feeling, un- 
kind words and cruel blows. 

Too often the employer and employee 
assume a hostile attitude toward each other. 
The one suspects evil of the other. Instead 
of greeting each other with a smile, they 
meet each other with a frown. They treat 
each other as an enemy and often threaten 
each other. They thus too often regard 
each other as an antagonist ; like the pu- 
gilists, they play the game of beating each 
other. This certainly is a very unpleasant 
spirit to cherish. It is neither pleasing to 
God nor profitable to man. 

Only in so far as the principle of Chris- 
tianity is cultivated and practiced, can we 



BUSINESS TIES. 45 

hope for better things. When Capital and 
Labor shake hands in friendship and say, 
" We will run our business on strictly- 
Christian principles, we will love each other 
and confide in each other, we will exercise 
charity for each other's faults and weak- 
nesses, and consult each other's good," then 
will Capital and Labor unite their voices in 
singing the doxology : " Praise God from 
whom all blessings flow." 



CHAPTER VI. 
Tie of Kinship* 

Kinship usually embraces a large circle 
of friends. Many threads are interwoven 
into its fabric. Its ramifications may be 
expressed by such terms as these : Parents, 
grandparents and great-grandparents ; fa- 
ther, father-in-law and step-father ; mother, 
mother-in-law and step-mother ; brother, 
half-brother and brother-in-law; sister, 
half-sister and sister-in-law ; uncle and 
great uncle ; aunt and great aunt ; niece 
and great niece ; nephew and great nephew ; 
first cousin, second cousin and third cousin. 
The more we contemplate the various forms 
of relationship, the larger the circle be- 
comes. In so far as we know that certain 
persons are related to us, do we realize the 
extent of our relationship. That we may 
have definite knowledge of this subject, it is 



TIE OF KINSHIP. 47 

necessary that family records be kept and 
consulted. Family reunions should occa- 
sionally be held and a competent person 
appointed historian, who will work up the 
family history and put the acquired data 
on record. At the family reunions friends 
are brought together ; in the social inter- 
course there, they see one another, talk to 
one another and feast together. They learn 
to know and love one another as relatives. 
In so far as we become conscious of our 
relationship do we feel its influences and 
our attachment to one another. When one 
dies, the sympathy of relatives is awakened 
and as many as possible attend the funeral. 
There is a general desire to see the visage 
of that friend once more, to mingle our 
tears and sympathies with the other friends, 
to learn all we can about his death, to hear 
what the pastor will say at the funeral, and 
to learn what disposition was made of his 
temporal effects. The death of an aunt, 
uncle or cousin appeals strongly to our 



48 TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 

sympathy, and the power of kinship 
forcibly asserts itself. 

With pride we think of our relatives 
who do well. We love to think about the 
grandfather who was in the Hevolutionar} T 
War, and the uncle who was in the Civil 
War. Should any of our relatives be elected 
to some high office, or called to fill some 
prominent position, we feel very much elated 
that we are related to that fortunate man. 
Then, too, if a relative drifts into the op- 
posite direction, we feel not a little ashamed 
and mortified. If one of our relatives de- 
frauds his fellowmen or commits a great 
crime, we would be glad to discard him, 
but we cannot shake him off; he is bound 
to us by the strong tie of kinship, and we 
must suffer on account of his wrong-doing. 

As relatives, we feel under obligations to 
visit one another, to patronize one another 
in business, and recognize the honor that 
centres in the family name. The relation 
that we sustain to one another binds us to- 
gether. We cannot tear ourselves from 



TIE OF KINSHIP. 49 

one another, nor break this tie. This rela- 
tion is no mere social compact ; we are 
bound together by the strong ties of kin- 
ship. 

We should all recognize the claims of 
this relationship, " We should rejoice with 
them that do rejoice, and weep with them 
that weep." As relatives, we should be 
jealous of our name and fame ; every indi- 
vidual should be careful that he does noth- 
ing that will reflect unfavorably on the 
good name of his kinship. Every one should 
feel that the reputation .of his relatives is at 
stake in his personal conduct, and he should 
do all that he can to advance the standing 
of his kinship. 

Were it not for this tie of kinship, indi- 
viduals and families would become secluded. 
There would be little visiting and less so- 
ciability. Personal acquaintances would 
become very limited and society would be 
confined to a small circle. As our acquaint- 
ances with relatives expand, our hearts will 
expand, and we will be more sociable. 



50 TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 

Parents with only one child are inclined to 
be narrow in their parental affections, but 
parents with a dozen or more children will 
have an expanded parental affection. So 
it is in our affections for our relatives. He 
who recognizes only a few relatives will 
have a limited affection, but he who recog- 
nizes many as relatives will have a big 
heart ; he will become big-hearted, whole- 
hearted. 

It is interesting to observe the tendencies 
of different localities in the expansion of 
kinship. In the United States we have 
had an influx of people from various coun- 
tries. Here the people of different national 
descent often intermarry ; thus many peo- 
ple of English, French, German and Irish 
stock are related to one another by the tie 
of kinship. This marriage amalgamation 
usually produces a hardy people. It mat- 
ters not of what nationality they are, the tie 
of relationship binds them firmly together. 

In some countries a class system of mar- 
riage prevails ; thus the royal families in- 



TIE OF KINSHIP. 51 

termarry ; in like manner do the wealthy- 
families and the literary families. In some 
localities we have known some families to 
marry principally within the circle of their 
own kinship, but it is generally considered 
best not to marry very near akin. 

It matters not how near or distant a per- 
son may be related to you, you feel that a 
mysterious tie binds you together ; that 
you have a personal interest in him, and he 
a personal interest in you. You cannot di- 
vest him of his claims on you, nor can he 
ignore the justice of your claims on him. 

How pure and disinterested was the love 
of David and his brother-in-law Jonathan. 
How devoted was Ruth to her mother-in- 
law when she said : " Entreat me not to 
leave thee, or to return from following after 
thee ; for whither thou goest I will go ; 
and where thou lodgest, I will lodge ; thy 
people shall be my people, and thy God my 
God." (Ruth 1 : 16.) 



CHAPTER VII. 
The Domestic Tie* 

The associations of a home are near and 
dear. The ties formed there are strong and 
lasting. If there is such a thing as organic 
relationship on earth, it is found in the 
family. 

The representation of a family under the 
symbol of a tree is no misnomer. The tree 
has its beginning, its gradual development, 
and its stage of maturity ; when it reaches 
out its branches, spreads its foliage to the 
rays of the sun and brings forth fruit in 
season. Such, too, has been the origin, 
growth and development of the human 
family. 

Adam, as an individual, was incomplete. 
He needed a companion. God said : " It 
is not good that the man should be alone ; 
I will make him a helpmeet for him." 



THE DOMESTIC TIE. 53 

From the side of Adam God took a rib, and 
out of this made Eve, his companion and 
wife. The two were made one in flesh, 
heart and mind. As two hemispheres are 
necessary to make a complete globe, as the 
positive and the negative polarities are nec- 
essary to complement each other, so neither 
would be complete without the other. That 
man and woman should enter the marriage 
relation is not only lawful, but it is neces- 
sary to perpetuate the human race. 

During the period of courtship they are 
naturally drawn toward each other and 
learn to know and love each other. A ring 
becomes the sign and seal of their engage- 
ment. Preparations are made for the mar- 
riage, and that happy event in due time is 
consummated. They are made one, not 
only by the marriage ceremony and by the 
civil law which authorizes and sanctions 
such marriage, but they are united in holy 
wedlock by the authority of God. The of- 
ficiating minister in the conclusion of the 
5 



54 TIES THAT BIND ON EAETH. 

ceremony says : " Whom God hath joined 
together, let not man put asunder." The 
union of husband and wife is divine, nor 
should it be severed except on Scriptural 
grounds. 

Generally, all through married life a mu- 
tual attachment for each other is felt. It 
continually asserts itself unconsciously, 
each betrays his or her attachment for the 
other. Together they visit their friends. 
Side by side they walk to the house of 
God and occupy the same pew. When the 
duties of the day are over, they are usually 
found together at home. When the hus- 
band returns home from the farm, work- 
shop, store or office, and his wife is not 
there, the first inquiry is, " Where is 
mother ? " When the husband must be ab- 
sent from home, the mind of his bosom 
friend wanders after him. 

Together, in the providence of God, they 
bring human beings into the world; to- 
gether they toil in the sweat of their faces 
to support their children ; together they 



THE DOMESTIC TIE. 55 

have tenderly watched over them, and for 
them they have prayed. They mutually 
delight in their children when they are 
good, and with mutual sorrow are affected 
when they are bad. 

Children have always been regarded as 
the strongest tie that binds parents together. 
Their children are of their own blood, flesh 
and bone. Here their own lives blend in 
that of others. Who does not see the visage 
of the father and mother in the child ? 
Who does not notice the temperament of 
the parents in their offspring ? 

This is a common saying : " Tell me with 
whom you associate, and I will tell you who 
you are." So, tell me who your parents 
are, and I will tell you what you are in dis- 
position and character? Parents infuse 
their own life and spirit into their children. 
The natural qualities and characteristics of 
the parents are, at least in part, bequeathed 
to tkeir children. 

If husband and wife had plighted their 
mutual love to each other before marriage ; 



56 TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 

if in the presence of friends they took the 
solemn marriage vow, never to forsake 
each other so long as both live ; if God has 
blessed them with dear children, who reflect 
their images and bear their temperaments, 
and with innocent and loving eyes look up 
to them and say, " Father, Mother," and 
then, with the impulse of the purest love, 
throw their arms around their necks and 
impress upon their cheeks a kiss ; then why, 
oh, why should the ruthless hand of divorce 
separate them as parents, and their children 
from them ? Should not parental love and 
the affections of their children bind them 
all together as one family ? 

What is more beautiful than to see a 
husband and wife live together in love and 
peace, and rear children who shall go out 
from the paternal home and form families 
of their own ? They thus fulfill their mis- 
sion as husband and wife. How often do 
we see husband and wife growing old to- 
gether, and seem to look alike through long 
companionship ; such must be happy in 



THE DOMESTIC TIE. 57 

their declining years, and when the earthly 
parting does come, how strong and tender is 
the mutual love that binds them together. 
A story is told of a Southern slave, which 
beautifully illustrates the deep love of those 
associated in the mission of a wedded life. 
A slave-holder committed the care of one of 
his teams to a faithful slave for some years. 
At last one of the horses sickened and died. 
While the slave was burying the faithful an- 
imal, the other horse came across the field 
and stood by, watching the operation as a 
silent mourner. The master said to the 
slave : " I believe Dick loved Billy." In- 
stantly the slave replied : " 'Course he did, 
massa ; why, they pulled together for twenty 
years." So, if husband and wife pull to- 
gether as they should during their married 
life, they will not only love each other, but 
most sincerely mourn one for the other 
when the parting time comes, and can hope 
to meet each other in the better land. Of 
them, too, the same may be said as it is 
written concerning Saul and Jonathan : 



58 TIES THAT BIND ON EAETH. 

"They were lovely and pleasant in their 
lives, and in their death they were not di- 
vided." (2 Sam. 1 : 23.) 



CHAPTER VIII. 
The Christian Tie* 

It is true there are many sects and de- 
nominations, creeds and church customs, 
which seem to divide Christians into factions 
and parties. This is on the surface and 
is seen, but there is an undercurrent of 
Christian sympathy and love which is not 
seen, but felt. 

All true Christians, of whatever sect, de- 
nomination or creed, have the spirit of the 
Master ; it is that spirit that binds them 
into one Christian community. Paul says : 
" Now if any man hath not the spirit 
of Christ, he is none of His." It is, there- 
fore, assumed that all true Christians have 
the spirit of the Master. 

If Christ could say that He and the Fa- 
ther were one by virtue of their divine na- 
ture, then certainly must all Christians be 



60 TIES THAT BIXI) OX EAETH. 

one in Christ. This divine spirit unites us 
to one another and to Christ, our living: 
Head. 

As the human body in its organism is 
held together by the natural spirit of man, 
so Christ's spiritual Temple, which is made 
up of the redeemed, are bound together by 
His Spirit. " In whom ye also are builded 
together for an haoitation of God through 
the spirit." (Eph. 2 : 22.) 

As the true Church of Christ on earth is 
thus pervaded by one and the same spirit, 
so is the individual Christian ; this spirit 
will often assert itself in him. Wherever 
he comes in contact with God's children he 
feels that he is among brethren and sisters 
in Christ. It matters not in what Church 
he enters, he experiences a feeling of spir- 
itual kinship. The fact that they worship 
the same God, believe in the same Christ 
and are influenced by the same Holy Spirit, 
is a bond of union and communion. 

While the spirit of unity may not in all 
localities be as pronounced, yet it does exist 



THE CHRISTIAN TIE 61 

in a measure, and brethren of different 
Christian denominations are ready and free 
to acknowledge it. Hence, a true Christian 
will recognize a brother in Christ, though 
he be an African or Chinaman. 

Underlying all true Christian union is 
the spirit of the Master ; not only is Christ 
in us the hope of glory, but it is Christ in 
us that is the true bond of fellowship and 
Christian union. He is the vine and we 
are the branches. The Christian abides in 
Christ by faith, and Christ abides in us by 
His spirit. Adam the first is in us by gen- 
eration, and Christ, the second Adam, is in 
us by regeneration. 

It is this indwelling spirit of Christ that 
holds the Church together. Like a flock of 
sheep that has been scattered will unite 
again, so the Church scattered by persecu- 
tion ever reunites by its indwelling spirit. 

When large gatherings of Christians meet 
in a convention, all denominational dis- 
tinctions and doctrinal differences seem to 
disappear. All feel the presence of God's 



62 TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 

spirit and their oneness in Christ, and all 
heartily join in singing that inspiring 
hymn, " All Hail the Power of Jesus' 
Name." 

This feeling of unity is very much inten- 
sified by our religious associations. When 
brethren and sisters worship together in the 
same Church, join in singing the same 
hymns of praise and kneel at the throne of 
grace in prayer ; when they hear the same 
preaching of the Gospel, partake together 
of the Holy Communion and participate in 
the benevolent work of the Church, they 
form ties that bind their hearts together in 
Christian sympathy, love and devotion. 

It is in these earthly sanctuaries where 
we have worshipped together, prayed for 
each other and confessed our sins together, 
that we catch the inspiration to sing the 
hymn, 

1 ' Blest be the tie that binds 
Our hearts in Christian love ; 
The fellowship of kindred minds 
Is like to that above." 



THE CHRISTIAN TIE. 63 

It is a nice thing to feel that the spiritual 
kinship is so strong that we can, with con- 
sistency and from the impulse of our re- 
newed hearts, address one another as brother 
or sister. Like birds of a feather, kindred 
spirits are naturally drawn toward each 
other. 

The tie is a tender one. Fellow Chris- 
tians may differ in circumstances, in culture 
and in the blood that courses through their 
veins, but in this they do agree : That they 
were sinners by nature and in a lost and 
ruined condition ; that Christ made an 
atonement for them in His death ; that by 
repentance and faith they are saved by 
Him. They come to the same mercy seat ; 
their penitential tears have flowed together ; 
together they communed at the Lord's 
Supper, and by faith they have partaken 
of Christ and all His benefits. 

As Christians, " We rejoice with them 
that do rejoice, and weep with them that 
weep." The Great Master teaches us to 
love one another. Observing the great at- 



64 TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 

tachment which Christians have for one an- 
other, the Pagans were accustomed to say : 
" See how these Christians love one an- 
other." You are not keeping Christ's 
company unless other's can see the result 
of your companionship with Him in your 
face and life. 

The highest form of fraternity is found 
among Christians. Various human socie- 
ties are held together by external forms and 
certain principles which they represent. 
But Christians are held together, not so 
much by external rights and ceremonies, or 
certain moral principles, but by the spirit 
of Christ which pervades them and draws 
and holds them together. 

It is true there are many things with 
which we are associated in our Church life 
that serve as bonds that bind us together. 
The Church hymnal, whose inspiring 
hymns have lifted our hearts heavenward ; 
the Bible, that we read and find is a sure 
guide to our feet ; the good pastor, who pro- 
claims the Gospel and breaks unto us the 



THE CHRISTIAN TIE. 65 

bread of life ; the organ, that pours forth 
its sweet strains of music on our souls ; the 
old church bell, that rings out the call to 
come and worship God, and the church ed- 
ifice, whose courts our feet have often trod. 
Even the cemetery, God's acre, hard by 
the church, is a sacred place to our souls. 
With silence we pace its aisles and in spirit 
commune with the departed whose earthly 
remains slumber there. All these things 
strengthen our love and faith in the com- 
munion with saints. 

This Christian tie manifests itself under 
various circumstances. You may meet a 
perfect stranger, and a very little thing in 
his conduct may attract your attention. It 
may be the reading of the Bible, or some re- 
ligious book or periodical ; you may hear 
him hum some sweet religious melody ; he 
may drop in your hearing a few religious 
remarks ; you may see him in the attitude 
of silent prayer, or perhaps you may notice 
something in his conduct or intercourse with 
his fellowmen that indicates that he is a 



66 TIES THAT BIND ON EARTH. 

follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. You 
are drawn to him at once, and your heart 
exclaims : " He is a brother in Christ." 
He appears no longer a stranger to you ; 
how free you are to speak to him and how 
pleasant is your acquaintance with him. 

Once I was waiting at a country railroad 
station for the train, when presently a col- 
ored man came in and sat a short distance 
from me. He also intended to take the same 
train. Occasionally I stole a glance at him. 
I thought he was the most homely colored 
man I ever saw ; he was black as coal and 
had seedy warts on his face. I began thus 
to think ; Why did God make that man 
so ugly ? I felt that his very ugliness was 
a mark of divine judgment, and would bar 
him from the society of his own race. In a 
short time I began to engage in conversa- 
tion with him, and, to my perfect surprise 
and amazement, I discovered that he was 
an educated Christian gentleman. I never 
heard a better conversationalist, nor one 
who expressed a higher Christian senti- 



THE CHRISTIAN TIE. 67 

ment ; I was drawn toward him at once ; I 
felt in my heart that I loved him. Forget- 
ting his color and ugliness, I felt that he 
was my brother in Christ. The spirit of 
adoption asserted itself, and I felt that a 
mysterious tie bound our hearts together. 
With such an one I could associate, because 
I found in him the true spirit of brother- 
hood. Thus, we are all by nature and in 
our constitution physically, socially, intel- 
lectually and morally united, related and 
dependent upon one another. 



PART II. 



TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 



6 



CHAPTER IX. 
Our Future State* 

There is no subject upon which the mind 
ought to dwell more frequently, more joy- 
fully and more deeply than that state of 
existence which is beyond the grave. 

The belief in a future state is universal. 
This belief is cherished not only by the 
Christian, but by the Pagan. Where is 
there a universal idea that is not true? 
Where are there universal hopes and fears 
that are groundless ? Where is there an 
idea that is common to heathen, Moham- 
medan, Jew and Christian — common to all 
lands and ages — that is not founded on 
truth? Humanity is not false to itself. 
Any want that is universally experienced 
by her is a true want, and any ,hope she 
universally cherishes may be realized. The 
ear without sound, and the eye without 



72 TIES THAT BIND IX HEAVEN. 

vision, would be meaningless. Man has de- 
sires which this world can never satisfy ; 
hence the belief, hope and desire of a future 
state is universal. 

How often do we say : " If we do not 
meet again on earth, we hope to meet in 
heaven." Our pious care and affection for 
the dead implies a belief in the perpetual 
love and final reunion with them in heaven. 
Even the tender care we take of their 
graves is an indication that death does not 
break the tie that binds us to them. The 
desire to be buried together is very signifi- 
cant. We live together in life ; we wish to 
be together in death, to rise together in the 
resurrection, and dwell together in the eter- 
nal habitation. 

The doctrine of a future state is assumed 
as a fact in the Scriptures, especially in the 
New Testament. There is apparently no 
effort made by the inspired writers to prove 
that the doctrine is true, as it is taken as a 
matter of fact. There is no effort made in 
Scripture to prove the existence of God, as 



OUR FUTURE STATE. 73 

this is a self-evident fact. So the sacred 
writers refer to the future state as an 
assured fact. 

Our Savior, after His resurrection, as- 
cended into heaven with His body. He 
took with Him a visible, tangible and glor- 
ified body. We are told that He shall come 
again in like manner as He was seen going 
up. Where Christ's body is there must be 
a material local heaven. The bodies of 
Enoch and Elijah are in heaven. Enoch 
was translated that he should not see death, 
and Elijah was caught up into a chariot. 

There are many passages of Scripture, in 
both the Old and New Testaments, that im- 
ply a future state : " I shall be satisfied 
when I awake with thy likeness." (Ps. 
17 : 15.) " Thy dead men shall live, to- 
gether with my dead body shall they arise." 
(Isa. 26 : 19.) " And many of them that 
sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, 
some to everlasting life, and some to shame 
and everlasting contempt." (Dan. 12 : 2.) 
" And it came to pass, that the beggar died, 



74 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

and was carried by the angels into Abra- 
ham's bosom ; the rich man also died, and 
was buried ; and in hell he lifted up his 
eyes, being in torment." (Luke 16 : 22-23.) 
" For we know that, if our earthly house of 
this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a 
building of God, a house not made with 
hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Cor. 
5 : 1.) " For if we believe that Jesus died 
and rose again, even so them also which 
sleep in Jesus wilh God bring with him." 
(1 Thes. 4 : 14.) The resurrection in the 
valley of dry bones, recorded in Ezekiel 
37 : 1-10, was typical of a future state. 

There are different views as to the time 
when the soul enters its future state. One 
view is that the soul remains in a dormant 
state in the grave with the body until the 
resurrection. This view implies that the 
souls of all who died in the past are still 
in an unconscious, dormant state, and will 
remain so to the end of this world. This 
view is neither pleasant or gratifying to our 



OUR FUTURE STATE. 75 

hearts, and is contrary to the teaching of 
God's Word. 

The second theory is, that while the body 
rests in the grave the soul preserves its 
identity and enters into an intermediate 
state and there remains until the resurrec- 
tion. We must remember that the soul is 
a separate and distinct entity, and can exist 
independent of the body. " God formed 
the spirit of man within him." (Zech. 
12 : 1.) The Savior said : " Fear not them 
which kill the body, but are not able to kill 
the soul." (Matt. 10 : 28.) Hence the 
soul is conscious when separated from the 
body. 

Perhaps the first feeling we will ex- 
perience after death will be that of self- 
consciousness. We will feel and be con- 
scious that we are ourselves and not another. 
We have a good illustration of this in a 
dream. At such a time the body is dor- 
mant ; the five senses are apparently in- 
active, and yet the mind, or spirit, is act- 
ive. In its reveries it seems to wander out 



76 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

of the body to different localities, and even 
back into the past. In this state it can ex- 
perience great joy or sorrow. In like man- 
ner the soul can wander into the interme- 
diate state and experience great joy or sor- 
row, pleasure or suffering. There are not a 
few adherents to this theory in some form. 

The third theory, which we think is the 
correct one, is that the souls of the redeemed 
at death pass immediately to heaven, where 
the body of Christ is, and where divine 
manifestations are most clearly made ; where 
angels have their home and all the heirs 
of God are assembled. 

Paul says : " We are willing rather to be 
absent from the body and to be present with 
the Lord." (2 Cor. 5 : 8.) To the thief on 
the cross Jesus said : " To-day shalt thou 
be with me in paradise." (Luke 23 : 43.) 

In like manner, we believe the souls of 
the lost pass immediately at death into hell. 
In the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, 
the one at death was carried by angels into 
Abraham's bosom, and the other in hell 



OUR FUTURE STATE. 77 

lifted up his eyes, being in torment. (Luke 
16 : 23.) 

After Jesus had finished His work on 
earth, He said : " I ascend unto my Father 
and your Father, and to my God and your 
God." (John 20 : 17.) Is it not plausible 
that God's adopted children after death 
shall be where He is ? Did not Christ say, 
"That where I am, there ye may be also?" 
Paul said : "I am in a strait betwixt two, 
having a desire to depart and to be with 
Christ ; which is far better." (Phil. 1 : 23.) 
Dying, Stephen exclaimed : " Lord Jesus, 
receive my spirit." (Acts 7 : 59.) Con- 
cerning the dead, Solomon says : " Then 
shall the dust return to the earth as it was, 
and the spirit shall return unto God who 
gave it." (Eccl. 12 : 7.) 

Although the soul at death is separated 
from the body, it still remains an entity. 
It has individuality and personality. As 
an intelligent personal spirit, it will bear 
traces by which it will be known and dis- 
tinguished from other kindred spirits. 



78 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEX. 

Does not the principle of life within give 
shape to the plant, tree and animal ? So 
the spirit within gives shape to the physical 
man ; the spirit within is the counterpart 
of the hody. Is not the spirit its pattern ? 
If a man loses a limb, does he not at times 
seem to have sensation in the spiritual 
member which takes the place of the am- 
putated arm ? 

If the soul is anything, it is something ; 
and if it is something, it has form ; it has a 
spiritual body. Spirit is very refined sub- 
stance which is not tangible to our natural 
senses. Is not the air we breathe substance, 
although we cannot see it ? The most pow- 
erful gases are substances which we cannot 
see ; so the soul has a spiritual body as real 
as the physical material body. 

If our material bodies have marks of 
identification, will not our spiritual bodies 
also have corresponding marks of identifica- 
tion ? Although the body remains in the 
grave, the soul will be clothed with a spir- 
itual body which will be readily discerned 



OUR FUTURE STATE. 79 

by kindred spirits. The seed that perishes 
gets its own body again, so the body that 
shall be, will in many respects be like the 
body that now is. At the transfiguration of 
Christ there appeared also Moses and Elias 
talking with him. They had spiritual bod- 
ies, which were revealed to the disciples. 
(Matt. 17 : 1-5.) 

As we come into the world with a ma- 
terial body, which was subsequently clothed 
with garments, so the soul at death comes 
into the realm of eternity with a spiritual 
body, and subsequently on the morn of the 
resurrection is clothed by the risen and 
glorified body. Paul, speaking of the gen- 
eral resurrection, says : " For the trumpet 
shall sound and the dead shall be raised in- 
corruptible, and we shall be changed. For 
this corruption must put on incorruption, 
and this mortal must put on immortality." 
(1 Cor. 15 : 52-54.) " There are celestial 
bodies and bodies terrestrial ; but the glory 
of the celestial is one, and the glory of the 
terrestrial is another." (1 Cor. 15 : 40.) 



80 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

If the earthly bodies are changed and 
glorified so as to be reoccupied by the re- 
turning spirits, then they will evidently re- 
tain marks of identification. The Day of 
Judgment will be only a public and final 
declaration of man's destiny. 



CHAPTER X. 
Heavenly Recognition* 

Not only do we believe in a future state, 
but we believe also in heavenly recog- 
nition ; this is a cherished belief that lays 
very near our hearts. There are many 
tender expressions found in God's Word 
that imply this. David said : " But now 
he is dead, wherefore shall I fast ? Can I 
bring him back again ? I shall go to him, 
but he shall not return to me." (2 Sam. 
12 : 23.) David loved his child most ten- 
derly ; he louged to be with him, to see and 
converse with him. This longing and as- 
piration of his paternal heart he felt God 
would not disappoint. 

We read of the good people of the Old 
Testament times who died and were gath- 
ered to their people ; thus " Abraham was 
gathered to his people." (Gen. 25 : 8.) 



82 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

" Isaac was gathered unto his people." 
(Gen. 35 : 29.) " Jacob was gathered unto 
his people/' (Gen. 49 : 33.) " Moses was 
gathered unto his people." (Deut. 32 : 50.) 
And the promise was made unto Joseph, 
" I will gather thee unto thy fathers." 

These passages have no special reference 
to the grave, for they were buried in dif- 
ferent localities and in different times, but 
they have reference to the spiritual world. 
But why gather his people together in the 
spiritual world ? Because there are ties 
that bind them together in the next world. 

In Bev. 7 : 14 we read of certain ones 
who came up out of great tribulation, and 
have washed their robes, and made them 
white in the blood of the Lamb. Why are 
they together ? When on earth they were 
the children of affliction and persecution 
and are now glorified together. 

How tenderly does the Savior speak to 
the troubled disciples : " In my Father's 
house are many mansions ; if it were not 
so, I would have told you ; I go to prepare 



HEAVENLY RECOGNITION. 83 

a place for you. And if I go and prepare 
a place for you, I will come again and re- 
ceive you unto myself; that where I am, 
there ye may be also." One of the saddest 
sights is the coming of an emigrant to this 
strange country with no one to welcome 
him. It is not so with us in going to our 
heavenly home. A house is the gathering 
place of the family, where they know one 
another and enjoy the presence of one an- 
other. A prepared heavenly home awaits 
all the redeemed children of God ; " That 
where I am, ye may be also." We all 
know where Christ is ; from Mount Olivet 
He ascended into heaven. It is to this 
place that He will bring His children. " In 
my Father's house are many mansions." 
As a house has different rooms or apart- 
ments, so heaven may have apartments 
suited to the different degrees and stages of 
God's people. Many mansions — the idea 
is that of a heavenly family, the members 
of which have all returned from a strange 
land and now live together. Whatever 



84 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

different views there may be entertained 
about these many mansions, we can rest 
assured that they will be right in their con- 
struction and occupancy. Concerning that 
better land the poet has well said : 

' ' There is a land of pure delight, 
Where saints immortal reign; 
Infinite day excludes the night, 
And pleasures banish pain." 

" Now we see through a glass, darkly ; 
but then face to face : now I know in part ; 
but then shall I know even as I also am 
known." (1 Cor. 13 : 12.) David says, 
" I will behold thy face in righteousness ; I 
shall be satisfied when I awake with thy 
likeness. ,, (Ps. 17 : 15.) " In thy pres- 
ence is fulness of joy ; at thy right hand 
there are pleasures for evermore." (Ps. 
16 : 11.) 

We believe that we shall meet our loved 
ones in the next world, because it is a nat- 
ural and deeply seated desire of the human 
heart. Is not our longing to meet those 
dear ones who have preceded us to the 
spirit world intense? Oh, how the hus- 






HEAVENLY KECOGNITION. 85 

band longs to meet his departed wife, and 
the wife her departed husband. How the 
parents long to meet their darling child 
that is in heaven, and children their sainted 
parents. Brothers long to meet their de- 
parted sister, and sisters their departed 
brother, and friends long to meet their de- 
parted friends. 

This deep seated desire, which is so uni- 
versal, must be grounded in a strong hope 
and assurance. God would not create such 
a deep seated desire in the human heart 
without making the necessary provision for 
its fulfillment. God made the ear for 
sound, the eye for light ; the one is the 
complement of the other. As the universal 
belief in the immortality of the soul is a 
proof of its immortality, so, too, the deep 
and tender desire to meet our loved ones in 
the other world is a proof that this is pos- 
sible, yea, very probable. God would not 
have planted this great desire in the heart 
7 



86 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

of man if He had not made it possible to 
realize. 

In contemplation of what is in store for 
God's people, my soul longs to leave this 
tenement of clay for the heavenly realities. 
Truly, " I shall be satisfied when I awake 
with thy likeness." (Ps. 17 : 15.) 

Dr. Nevin said : " It is true, death sepa- 
rates us ; it takes us from many we love, 
but it takes us to as many as we love. 
More than half of some families have al- 
ready gone to heaven. Why should we be 
more desirous to continue with that part on 
earth ? Thus, our relation to the spirit 
world is most intimate and endearing. 



CHAPTER XL 

Communication Between This and 
the Spirit World* 

It is true that David said concerning his 
dead son, " I shall go to him, but he shall 
not return to me." (2 Sam. 12 : 23.) There 
is nevertheless a communication between 
the two worlds. Those in heaven feel an 
interest in those on earth ; we have lost 
them for a time, but they have not lost us. 

The Old Testament saints are repre- 
sented as a cloud of witnesses looking down 
upon us. " Wherefore seeing we also are 
compassed about with so great a cloud of 
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, 
and the sin which doth so easily beset us, 
and let us run with patience the race that 
is set before us." (Heb. 12 : 1.) That we 
are at times unconscious of their presence 
does not prove its impossibility. If the 



88 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

rich man in hell was interested in his five 
brothers, why may not our sainted ancestors 
be interested in us ? 

We are told that " Angels are sent forth 
to minister for them who shall be heirs of 
salvation." (Heb. 1 : 14.) On earth they 
camp around our dwellings, and are sent to 
keep us in all our ways. 

In Jacob's ladder angels are represented 
as continually descending from heaven to 
earth, and ascending from earth to heaven. 
" And behold a ladder set up on the earth, 
and the top of it reached to heaven ; and 
behold the angels of God ascending and 
descending on it." (Gen. 28 : 12.) Do not 
our friends in heaven inquire of returning 
angels concerning us ? 

Our relation to the spirit world is most 
intimate and endearing. The very rever- 
ence which we feel toward the unseen spirits 
of the dead proclaims the power of their in- 
fluence over us ; though this feeling is dark 
and unintelligent to us, it is not so to them. 
The ties that bound us to our sainted friends 



THE SPIRIT WQBLD. 89 

are not broken by death ; while we are 
loving them, they are loving us too. 

Many of the patriarchs of the Old Tes- 
tament desired to be buried with their an- 
cestors. Why this desire to be buried with 
parents and grandparents ? It indicates a 
belief that there is a fellowship among the 
dead. We believe that departed saints are 
in one another's presence above. 

The desire to be buried by the side of 
those we love is both natural and religious. 
The family burial ground has associations 
which make the idea of death less dreary. 
The ancient Hebrews regarded life as a 
journey. When at death they arrived at 
the end of this journey, they were received 
into the company of their ancestors who 
had gone before ; this belief gave rise to 
the expression, " To be gathered to one's 
people ; to go to one's fathers." 

This affection for kinship in life and 
death is not instinctive, but religious. The 
Jewish religion was a family religion. The 
Christian religion is the same. It places 



90 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

our kinship nearest to us. As friends on 
earth let us long to have our broken ties 
mended, that they may last forever. 

The Church is not two families, the one 
on earth and the other in heaven ; but it 
is the whole family on earth and heaven 
" of whom the whole family in heaven and 
earth is named. " (Eph. 3 : 15.) 

' ' Let saints below in concert sing, 
With those to glory gone ; 
For all the servants of our King, 
In earth and heaven are one. 

1 ' One family — we dwell in Him, — 
One Church above, beneath, 
Though now divided by the stream, 
The narrow stream is death. 

1 ' E'en now, by faith, we join our hands, 
With those that went before, 
And greet the ransomed, blessed bands, 
Upon the eternal shore." 

As soon as one enters the fellowship of 
the saints in the Church on earth, he is 
then in present and eternal fellowship and 
sympathy with the saints in heaven. No 
one who does his dutv in this world needs 

V 

fear a call to the next. When Jonathan 



THE SPIRIT WORLD. 91 

Edwards died, after bidding his relatives 
good-bye, he said : " Now where is Jesus 
of Nazareth, my true and never-failing 
friend ?" He had learned to trust that 
Savior who said : " Lo, I am with you al- 
way, even unto the end of the world." 
(Matt. 28 : 20.) He could say with Da- 
vid, " Though I walk through the valley 
of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil : 
for thou art with me ; thy rod and thy 
staff they comfort me." (Ps. 23 : 4.) 

We are now known to our sainted an- 
cestors in heaven ; but when we enter that 
state, then shall we know them as they 
now know us. "Now I know in part; 
but then shall I know even as also I am 
known." (1 Cor. 13: 12.) Heaven is not 
to be a strange place, peopled with strange 
people, but it will be a home to us. We 
feel that that form must meet us again 
which met us before. 

Will it not be a delightful part of our 
celestial life to review old associations hal- 
lowed by earthly love ; to recount mutual 



92 TIES THAT BIXD IN HEAVEX. 

trials and triumphs, and to express grati- 
tude for favors ? 

Sometimes we recognize an old friend 
immediately, and sometimes slowly. How 
slow were the brothers of Joseph to recog- 
nize him in Egypt. He had to reveal him- 
self to them. He said : " I am Joseph your 
brother." (Gen. 45 : 4.) The warmth of 
kindred love was latent in their hearts and 
needed only to be brought nearer to one 
another to feel its power. How slow were 
the two disciples to recognize Jesus on their 
way to Emmaus. There will be many 
such experiences in heaven. In the heav- 
enly world there will be a great variety of 
ways in which old associates and acquaint- 
ances will be revealed — some suddenly, 
some by degrees, and others through the 
ministration of angels. 



CHAPTEK XII. 
Heavenly Ties* 

In the preceding chapters we have con- 
sidered some of the ties that bind mankind 
together on earth. If such close attach- 
ments are formed in this sinful world, what 
must be the attachments of heaven, where 
all is holy and perfect ? The ties there 
may be no less in number and infinitely 
stronger. 

There we will be drawn together in the 
mutual contemplation of the New Jerusa- 
lem. As people in this world are drawn 
together by being associated in their con- 
templation of any place of attraction and 
beauty, so it will be in heaven. Together 
we shall walk the golden streets and enter 
the pearly gates. Together we shall ap- 
proach the great White Throne and behold 
Him that sittest thereon. 



94 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

As men are bound together by the spirit 
of patriotism, as the Romans by their de- 
votion to Rome, and the Jews by their love 
for Jerusalem, so our common interests in 
the New Jerusalem, and our admiration 
and love for it, will bind our hearts to- 
gether ; then we will sing with new inspi- 
ration, " Jerusalem, Jerusalem/' 

As we wander through the grounds of a 
county or state fair we see various groups 
of people gathered around certain places of 
attraction, so it will be in heaven ; there 
will.be manv centres of attraction which 
will serve as bonds of reunion. Let us 
notice a few of them : 

Near the source of the River of Life will 
be seated in their heavenly attire Adam and 
Eve. Their proximity to the source of this 
river indicates that they were the source or 
fountain head of the human family. Oh, 
with what curious and cherished interest 
we will draw near to them. What a pleas- 
ure it will be to look into their faces and to 
hear them talk. We will exclaim with ec- 



HEAVENLY TIES. 95 

stasy : Is it possible that we are permitted to 
gaze upon our original parents, Adam and 
Eve, "The mother of all living ? " (Gen. 
3 : 20.) 

How intensely will we listen to their nar- 
rations ; what curious questions will we ask 
about their home, clothing and diet while on 
earth ? How gratifying it will be to hear 
from their lips the earliest history of man- 
kind. With what tender pathos will they 
speak of Abel's cruel death. It will be 
a wonderful revelation and unspeakable 
pleasure thus to see, hear and talk with our 
first parents. We will experience a re- 
newed relation to them. 

Do not be surprised that upon a personal 
acquaintance with them we will feel a 
strong impulse to say, " Father Adam ! 
Mother Eve ! " The tie of kinship hidden 
and dormant for scores of centuries will 
then assert itself, and to these once earthly 
but now glorified parents their redeemed 
children will say, " My father and my 
mother." Then, indeed, the two extremes of 



96 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

the human family will come together. Oh, 
what a glorious meeting that will be when 
the beginning and the end of the human 
race will meet. Since the Bible tells us 
that there will be recognition in heaven, 
what will prevent such a happy meeting 
between our first parents and their remotest 
children. 

While we will be interested in what they 
will tell us of the long ago, it is probable 
that they will be just as much interested in 
the accounts their children will give of 
their lives and experiences. 

What is more pleasing to aged parents 
than to have a reunion with their children 
and grandchildren. When our first parents 
and their redeemed children shall meet, 
what a family reunion that will be. There 
will be such a family reunion hymn sung 
as was never sung before. 

Noah will be a centre of attraction. 
When a sea captain has brought a vessel 
safely through a tempestuous journey and 
moored it securely in the harbor, then many 



HEAVENLY TIES. 97 

passengers on board bestow hearty praises 
on him. He will be held in grateful re- 
membrance by those who were under his 
protection. His name will be handed down 
to succeeding generations as one who pi- 
loted the ship safely through the great 
storm. 

But who has not heard of the great del- 
uge which God sent upon this world about 
four thousand years ago ? It rained forty 
days and forty nights. The streams over- 
flowed their banks, the valleys were inun- 
dated, and even the hills and mountains 
were covered with water. Every living 
thing perished, except Noah and those who 
were in the ark with him. 

Noah was appointed by God as the cap- 
tain of this great vessel. He superintended 
the building of the ark ; he managed the 
embarkation of the animals, and the inter- 
nal affairs during its voyage. How inter- 
esting it will be to gather around the old 
sea captain and hear from his lips the story 
of the flood. He will tell us of the wick- 



98 TIES THAT BI>~B IX HEAVEN". 

edness of the people and the threats which 
God made. He will tell us of the building 

of the ark and the embarkation. All the 
animals seemed to be under a spell which 
made them obey. He will tell us how long 
they were on the deep and fathomless 
waters ; how the waters be^an to assuage, 
and how the mountains and hills came in 
sight. He will tell us of the raven sent 
out. which did not return ; then of the dove, 
which returned with an olive leaf. >Gen. 
S : 11. i He will tell us of the ark resting 
upon the mountains of Ararat I Gen. 8:4), 
and how the animals went out of the ark 
and scattered over the face of the new 
world. 

He will tell us of the great devastation 
he saw evervwhere. Xo storv of a sea 

as w 

captain was ever as interesting as this one. 
"Will not we all feel drawn toward Xoah ? 
\Yill not this old sea captain be a tie 
bind us to one another ? How often in 
^Trinity will we interview him and request 
him to tell the storv of the flood. 



HEAVENLY TIES. 99 

In heaven the good old patriarchs will 
be an attraction. When on earth they 
walked with God, and when they died they 
were gathered unto their people. How 
pleasant it will be to meet them and hear 
them tell of the wonderful dealings of God 
with them during their earthly pilgrimage. 

Is it not promised " That many shall 
come from the east and west, and shall sit 
down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, 
in the kingdom of heaven ? " (Matt.8 : 11.) 
Oh, what a social feast that will be ; even 
in this life we feel drawn toward those good 
old patriarchs. 

Many who were afflicted while on earth 
will gather around the old sainted and 
sanctified Job. How many will be anxious 
to see and talk with him ; how many will 
express their gratitude to him for the com- 
fort and help received from his life and ex- 
ample. 

How many afflicted ones on earth have 
found comfort in reading about the trials 
and sufferings of this great and good man. 



100 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

What Christian has not received help and 
comfort from Job ? 

The man who has sustained heavy finan- 
cial losses, the bed-ridden patient, the man 
from whom God seemed to withdraw His 
presence for a time, have found in Job com- 
fort and sustaining grace. The example 
of Job's resignation and patience has been 
a comfort and stay to many an afflicted man 
and woman ; he has taught us to say : 
" The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken 
away ; blessed be the name of the Lord." 
(Job 1 : 21.) 

What a lesson of faith and comfort he 
teaches us in the wreck of his own fortune 
and health. He says : " Though after my 
skin worms destroy this body, yet in my 
flesh shall I see God." (Job 19 : 26.) Sores 
were destroying his skin, and worms would 
devour his body, yet he believed that in 
his flesh he should see God, and felt that 
he would be perfectly reconciled to His 
Providence. The sequel proved the literal 
fulfillment of this prophecy. Great pros- 



HEAVENLY TIES. 101 

perity followed his sore adversity, " So the 
Lord blessed the latter end of Job more 
than his beginning." (Job 42 : 12.) This 
prophecy of Job is considered by many as 
applicable to the resurrection and glorifica- 
tion of the body in which we shall see God ; 
it certainly will be interesting to many to 
hear Job tell of his many heavy afflictions 
and how God delivered him out of them all. 

David the Psalmist will be an attraction 
in heaven. How fascinating it will be to 
hear him tell how he slew the giant Goliath, 
(1 Sam. 17 : 51,) and how he cut off the 
skirt of Saul's robe in the cave, (1 Sam. 
24 : 4.) No less interesting will be the 
story of warning given by Jonathan shoot- 
ing an arrow, (1 Sam. 20 : 36.) 

In this world his beautiful psalms filled 
our hearts with joy and taught our lips to 
praise God. He could not only touch the 
strings of his golden harp and pour forth 
sweet strains of music, but in his psalms 
he touched the chords of the human heart 
8 



102 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

and caused it to vibrate in joyful accents. 
How delighted will we be to see and bear 
bim wbo gave us sucb belps to devotion. 
If tbe sweet singers of beaven are consti- 
tuted a choir, it will not be unlikely tbat 
David will bave a first place in it. As tbe 
sbeep gatber around tbe shepberd when be 
plays or sings bis sbepberd songs, so will 
we be drawn to this great musician when 
he pours forth the sweet strains from his 
golden harp. Will it not seem natural to 
be drawn to him whose spiritual psalms ap- 
pealed so strongly to our hearts in this 
life? 

The Old Testament prophets will be a 
centre of attraction. They foretold many fu- 
ture events, and predicted the coming of the 
Savior to the earth. They thus prepared 
the way for His coming ; tbe fulfillment of 
their prophecies was an evidence that the 
Messiah had really come ; their prophecies 
were flash lights to reveal the future. We 
have carefully studied their writings and 
seen how literally many of their writings 



HEAVENLY TIES. 103 

were fulfilled in Christ ; how courageous 
were they in their warnings and admoni- 
tions and how positive in their predictions. 

Will we not be drawn to these prophets 
of the Old Testament? How our souls 
long to see and hear these oracles of God. 
It will be interesting to hear them tell how 
they were able to look so far into the fu- 
ture, and see what was to be, but had not 
come to pass. 

What student of the Bible does not at 
times desire to see the Prophets Isaiah, 
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, and talk 
with them over the wonderful fulfillments 
of their prophecies. " The prophecy came 
not in olden time by the will of man, 
but holy men of God spake as they were 
moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Pet. 1 : 21.) 

These holy men will attract the redeemed 
to themselves as the servants of the Most 
High. Many of the prophecies which are 
dark and mysterious will then be made 
clear to us by the mouths of those who ut- 
tered them. Who among the redeemed 



104 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

will not be drawn toward these heavenly- 
seers ? 

The martys will be a centre of attrac- 
tion. While on earth they suffered much 
persecution for the cause of Christ ; Paul 
describes some of the early persecutions : 
" They were stoned ; they were sawn asun- 
der, were tempted, were slain with the 
sword ; they wandered about in sheep 
skins and goat skins ; being destitute, af- 
flicted, tormented. They wandered in des- 
erts, and in mountains, and in dens and 
caves of the earth." (Heb. 11 : 37-38.) 

It is supposed that all the apostles suf- 
fered martyrdom except St. John. St. 
Stephen, the first martyr, was stoned to 
death, exclaiming : " Lord Jesus, receive 
my soul." (Acts 7 : 59.) Three were be- 
headed : James the Great, Matthias and 
Paul. Six were crucified : Philip, Andrew, 
Peter, Jude, Bartholomew and Simon. 
Luke was hanged. Matthew was slain with 
a halberd. James the Less, at ninety- 
four, had his brains dashed out with a 



HEAVENLY TIES. 105 

fuller's club. Thomas was pierced through 
with a spear, and St. Mark was dragged to 
pieces by the people of Alexandria. 

During the first three hundred years of 
the Christian era there were ten general 
persecutions under Pagan emperors, and 
later on there were persecutions of Chris- 
tians in different countries, principally by 
the Catholics. 

During these persecutions thousands of 
Christians died the most cruel death for 
their faith, and became the strongest wit- 
nesses for the truth. Their willingness to 
die for their faith led others to embrace it. 
The blood of the martyrs became the seed 
of the Church ; their testimony for Christ 
was sealed with their own blood and thus 
it received the highest consecration. 

In their sufferings and death they glori- 
fied God and received the martyr's crown 
of glory. The great army of martyrs will 
occupy a conspicuous place in heaven. We 
may justly apply to them the passage in 
Revelation : " These are they which came 



106 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

out of great tribulation and have washed 
their robes and made them white in the 
blood of the Lamb." (Rev. 7 : 14.) It will 
be interesting to see and hear the story of 
their witnessing for Christ. While our 
hearts have been bound to them by the 
strong tie of sympathy and gratitude, they 
were bound together by the tie of fellow- 
ship in suffering for the cause of Christ ; 
and they will be glorified together and re- 
warded as the most faithful and self-sacri- 
ficing of all God's people. 

How interesting it will be to see and 
hear the Reformers tell their experiences 
in struggling for a pure gospel and Church. 

Every Lutheran will be anxious to see 
Luther and hear him tell about the great 
Reformation. When the Mother Church 
had become corrupt by the influx of Jew- 
ish rites, heathen superstitions and human 
inventions, Luther and other men rose up 
to reform it. The part that Luther took in 
the great Reformation of the Church is fa- 
miliar to every reader of history. 



HEAVENLY TIES. 107 

It will be interesting to hear him tell 
about the ninety-five theses which he pub- 
lished and which were designed to expose 
the fallacies of the old Mother Church, and 
to advocate pure gospel doctrine. It will 
be interesting to hear him tell of the cast- 
ing of the Canon laws and the bull of ex- 
communication into the fire, and of his 
going to Worms to answer the charges pre- 
ferred against him by the Catholic Church. 
With what courage and ability did he an- 
swer those charges. 

What a host of Lutherans will gather 
around Father Luther, and what a delight 
it will be to look upon the face of one who 
was the founder of their Church on earth ; 
and no less gratifying will it be to Luther 
to see the many who on earth honored his 
name and served the Divine Master under 
his leadership. 

All members of the Reformed Church 
will be pleased to see Ulric Zwingli, the 
recognized founder of their Church on 
earth. He was considered a highly intel- 



108 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

lectual and cultured man ; a profound 
scholar and a fine theologian. It will be 
interesting to hear him tell about his 
preaching the gospel in its purity ; his re- 
ply to the Pope's nuncio, how he won the 
council over to the Reformation, and how 
he died in the defense of a pure gospel on 
the battlefield of Cappel. Every member 
of the Reformed Church will be pleased to 
see Olevianus and Ursinus, the authors of 
their symbol of faith, the Heidelberg Cate- 
chism, which they studied when children 
and which taught them what their true 
comfort in life and death was. 

Members of the Presbyterian Church 
will naturally be drawn to John Calvin. 
He had a fine intellectual and logical 
mind. No other, perhaps, could have for- 
mulated and defined so clearly the great 
doctrines of fore-ordination, election and 
predestination as he did. These doctrines 
have been a tower of strength to that peo- 
ple. Although they seem somewhat mod- 
ified and modernized in the minds of many 



HEAVENLY TIES. 109 

of the laity and clergy, they have their 
mission and are a bond of union to that 
branch of the Church. 

If Presbyterianism and Calvinism are 
now much emphasized by members of that 
Church, then certainly the great reformer 
and systematizer of Christian doctrine will 
be a centre of attraction. I can almost see 
the Presbyterians approaching Calvin and 
taking him by the hand and say, " Well, 
John Calvin, we are glad to see you face to 
face. We knew you were inspired by God ; 
we knew you were right, too, but we did 
not understand some of your great doc- 
trines. We knew that we were predestined 
to salvation and ordained to life everlasting. 
Here we are in the glorified Church above, as 
you said we would be. Give God the glory." 
• Every Methodist will want to see and 
talk with John Wesley, the founder of their 
Church. It would take ages for every 
Methodist that shall reach heaven to have 
a personal interview with this great and 
good man. 



110 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

How interesting it will be to hear how 
he was rescued from the burning house 
when a child, and then when all was de- 
stroyed by fire, his father with the family 
knelt down and fervently thanked God that 
the life of little John was spared ; but his 
life was not only spared to his parents, but 
to the great family of Methodists. Where 
would the Methodist Episcopal Church be 
to-day if John had not been rescued from 
the flames ? It will be interesting to hear 
him tell of his preaching, repentance and 
conversion; the necessity of a change of 
heart and the importance of living a life of 
prayer and practical holiness. How de- 
lighted he will be to see the great host of 
redeemed and glorified Methodists. What 
a rally of Methodists there will be in 
heaven. How heaven will ring with their 
chorus of " Glory ! Glory ! Glory ! ' ; 

It is true there will be no sect or denom- 
ination in heaven ; but on earth these men 
took a prominent part in certain great 
movements which helped to shape our 



HEAVENLY TIES. Ill 

lives and destinies. We shall sit down at 
the celestial feast with the Patriarchs, 
Prophets, Church Fathers, Martyrs and 
Reformers. 

What a privilege to meet the great and 
grand of all ages, and to live together in 
glory ; to hear from their own lips the 
story of their trials and troubles. The 
heart of Socrates bounded with joy at the 
thought of meeting Orpheus, Homer, Hesiod 
and others. Shall we not rejoice at meet- 
ing Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, 
Paul, Polycarp, Cyprian, Augustine and 
others ? 

The great host of Baptists will be pleased 
to see John the Baptist. While on earth 
they did not agree with many other Chris- 
tians in the mode of baptism, but they did 
agree with other Christians that in true 
Christian baptism there should be the 
exercise of true faith, and the application 
of water in the name of the Father, Son 
and Holy Ghost ; that a properly author- 
ized person, as a minister of the gospel, 



112 TIES THAT BIND IN HEAVEN. 

should administer the baptism to the can- 
didate, but they insisted that the mode of 
applying the water should be by immer- 
sion. It was a happy compromise between 
the Pedo-Baptists and the Baptists ; the 
immersionist and the effusionist to agree 
to disagree on the mode of administering 
this sacrament. They all, however, agreed 
upon the importance of the baptism by the 
Holy Ghost. 

As all Christians do not agree as to the 
mode of baptism, it certainly will be inter- 
esting in heaven to consult John the Bap- 
tist. How interesting it will be to hear 
him tell of the baptism of Jesus in the B-iver 
Jordan. He will then settle the great 
question as to whether it was by immersion 
or effusion. Then, too, we may have the 
opportunity of asking Philip how he bap- 
tized the Eunuch when they went down into 
the water together ; whether it was by im- 
mersion or by effusion. 

Celestial light will be thrown upon sev- 
eral analagous passages of Scripture, as : 



HEAVENLY TIES. 113 

" We are buried with him by baptism into 
death." (Rom. 6 : 4.) Does it mean that 
in baptism we are buried in water, or that 
our Adamie sinful nature is dead and bu- 
ried, and that we rise to a new and better 
life — a Christian life? "Knowing this, 
that our old man is crucified with him, that 
the body of sin might be destroyed." (Rom. 
6: 6.) ' 

Does this mean that we are literally cru- 
cified on the cross with Him, or does it 
mean that the Adamie nature is being cru- 
cified, put to death, so that the body of sin 
may be destroyed ? The question concern- 
ing the true mode of baptism will then be 
settled, and there will be no more contro- 
versies on this issue by Christians. The 
barrier to a free communion of saints will 
then be removed, and there will be " One 
Lord, one faith, and one baptism." (Eph. 
4: 5.) 



CHAPTER XIII. 
Christ the Great Center of Attraction* 

But the greatest attraction in heaven 
will be Christ. As the natural sun is the 
center of the solar system, so Christ will 
be the center of attraction in heaven. 

During a period of four thousand years 
God was preparing the world for His com- 
ing, " But when the fulness of the time was 
come, God sent forth his Son, made of a 
woman, made under the law, that we might 
receive the adoption of sons." (Gal. 4 : 4-5.) 

His advent to earth was attended with 
great phenomena. The wise men of the 
East and the Shepherds paid Him homage. 
He was God manifested in the flesh, " The 
express image of His person." (Heb. 1 : 3.) 
He shed His blood for us, for without shed- 
ding of blood is no remission. He gave 
His life a ransom for many. He was the 



THE CENTER OF ATTRACTION. 115 

desire of all nations and the Savior of man- 
kind. How precious is He to the heart of 
every believer. His name is above every 
other name. 

In heaven He is all glorious. " And the 
city hath no need of the sun, neither of the 
moon to shine in it ; for the glory of God did 
lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." 
(Rev. 21 : 23.) Oh, what a joy it will be to 
God's redeemed millions to look upon the 
face of the glorified Savior. Truly, " In thy 
presence is fullness of joy ; at thy right hand 
are pleasures forevermore. ,, (Ps. 16 : 11.) 

It was a pleasure to the multitude to ap- 
proach Him as He sat on the mountain and 
taught, or to gather at the seashore and listen 
to Him as He taught from a boat, but how 
much more glorious it will be to approach 
His great White Throne and hear from 
His lips the accouot of His sojourn on earth 
in the interest of fallen humanity. 

As Mary sat at His feet and eagerly 
drank in the words of the Master, so we 
will in heaven sit at His feet and hear the 



116 TIES THAT BEN'D Ds HEAVEN. 

story of man's redemption. How interest- 
ing it will be to hear Him tell of His par- 
ents' flight into Egypt ; His visit to the 
temple at the age of twelve years, where He 
had an interview with the learned doctors ; 
to hear Him tell of His work at the car- 
penter's trade ; of His miracles and para- 
bles ; to hear Him tell about His death, 
resurrection, ascension and glorification ; 
to hear Him tell of the Father's house in 
which there are manv mansions, and of 
His preparing a place for us. 

Oh, thou holy Christ, eternity will be 
too short to tell the whole story of re- 
demption ! Oh, my soul, what a delight it 
will be to behold Him and there see Him 
face to face ! 

Xo wonder Paul would rather be absent 
from the body and present with the Lord. 
He was by inspiration caught up into the 
third heaven, 1 2 Cor. 12 : 2.) In contem- 
plation of what God has in reserve for His 
people, we may justly quote Paul, as he also 
quoted Isaiah, " Eye hath not seen, nor ear 



THE CENTER OF ATTRACTION. 117 

heard, neither have entered into the heart 
of man, the things which God hath pre- 
pared for them that love him." (1 Cor. 
2:9.) As this may be experienced by the 
believer in this life, what must the presence 
of Christ be in heaven ? 

It is said concerning Him that " As 
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilder- 
ness, so must the son of man be lifted up. 
And I if I be lifted up, will draw all men 
unto me." That is being literally fulfilled 
in our day. In Christ alone can our race, 
long divided and estranged by sin, be 
brought together. His look, His words 
and His wounds will draw them to Him. 

In heaven He will be lifted up in His 
glory, on His great White Throne. And 
the redeemed and sanctified, and glorified, 
with the Cherubim and Seraphim, will be 
drawn unto Him. Then heaven will echo 
with the hymn : 

' ' All hail the power of Jesus' name ! 
Let Angels prostrate fall! 
Bring forth the royal diadem, 
And crown Him Lord of all." 



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